CUPE Bargaining on Several Fronts in Long Term Sector

SYDNEY, NOVA SCOTIA--(Marketwire - Jan. 10, 2011) - There have been several developments on the labour relations front for CUPE in Cape Breton.

CUPE National Representative John Evans says three different locals – all in the Long Term Care sector – have been hard at bargaining recently.

"Our newest local, Local 5032 representing 45 employees at St. Anne Community and Nursing Care Centre in Arichat, has just received its certification order from the Labour Board. We look forward to bargaining our first contract with this employer.

"Local 4965, representing 40 employees at Celtic Court in Sydney, has just ratified its first contract giving them wage parity with their counterparts across the province. I'm also happy to report that this group has entered into the Health Association NS Pension Plan."

Says Evans, "On a much less optimistic note, bargaining for Local 3630 – employees of Port Hawkesbury Nursing Home – is not going well up to this point.

"So far this employer has not tabled the monetary settlement negotiated by CUPE provincially. They have also taken an unfair and unjustifiable position on the issue of a job posting which has serious implications for all employees."

"As a result of these two items, employees have taken a strike vote and have voted strongly in favour of job action if we cannot resolve these outstanding issues," explains Evans.

Evans says the Conciliator with the Department of Labour will be filing his report to the Minister this week which will put us in a legal position by month's end.